Episode 61

In this warm and inspired conversation, host Michaela Carlin speaks with Elizabeth Bast, co-founder of Soul Centro, an iboga retreat center located in Costa Rica. Elizabeth shares about her deep immersion with iboga within the context of the Bwiti tradition in Gabon, reflecting on how it has transformed her life and brought profound healing to both her and her husband, co-facilitator, Chor Boogie.

The dialogue covers a wide range of topics, including generational trauma, the significance of regenerative neurology in addiction treatment, respecting the sacred use of iboga, and what it means to live a life serving medicine in steadfast dedication to individual and collective healing. Elizabeth also underlines the intersection of her roles as a mother and a medicine woman and the significance of ancestral wisdom, sovereignty, and soul connection in parenthood and guiding others.

Elizabeth Bast is the cofounder of SoulCentro Iboga Retreats in Costa Rica, along with her husband, ordained Bwiti Nima and visionary artist "Chor Boogie." Bast experienced the Missoko Bwiti initiation, rite of passage, and immersive traditional Iboga provider training. She is a twice certified, trauma-informed yoga teacher and has completed the transformational coach certification course for psychedelic medicine integration and addiction recovery through Being True to You. Along with her husband Gnyangou, she traveled to Gabon numerous times to study the traditional Bwiti ways of knowing. Her Bwiti name is Mbeye, which means the medicine of the river.

Episode Highlights

• Elizabeth’s husband’s journey overcoming heroin addiction

• The healing power of iboga

• Elizabeth and Chor’s first journey to study iboga in Gabon

• The challenges and preparation for a trip to Africa

• Motherhood and lessons from iboga

• The journey to self-healing

• Building ancestor altars

• The power of surrender and ancestral guidance

• The resonance of love and trust: gifts of the medicine

• The miracle of natural birth and the role of medicine

• The power of presence and listening in motherhood

• The soul's wisdom: a guide to parenting

• The sacred role of mothers in medicine

• The power of self-love and self-care

• Potential of medicine in consciousness evolution

• The importance of sovereignty and choice

• The role of medicine in healing generational trauma

Elizabeth Bast’s Links 

• Website: www.ebast.net

• Website: www.soulcentro.com

• Instagram: @soulcentro_retreats

• Facebook: SoulCentro Retreats

• LinkedIn: Elizabeth Bast

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Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.

You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape